Composite toroidal gasket ring for ball valves

ABSTRACT

A gasket for use with a ball and valve, the gasket comprising an oval support and a toroidal gasket. The oval support further comprises a horizontal section and a vertical section, the horizontal section and vertical section attached to form a groove. The groove is defined by a tooth on one of the sections. The toroidal gasket is fixedly attached to the oval support and the toroidal gasket is inserted into the groove.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of ItalianApplication for Patent, Serial No. BS2001U000071, entitled “CompositeToroidal Gasket Ring For Ball Valves,” filed on Jul. 27, 2001, which ishereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable.

FIELD

[0003] The present invention is related to ring shaped sealing gaskets,and more particularly to a ring shaped sealing gaskets for use in ballvalves.

BACKGROUND

[0004] Toroidal gasket rings, also known as “O” rings, are typicallymade of rubber and are commonly used as static seals in the presence offorces which are predominantly perpendicular at a diametric plane.Toroidal gasket rings are also commonly used as dynamic seals in thepresence of forces which develop in particular in the diametric plane ofthe gasket itself.

[0005] Likewise, the use of ring-shaped gaskets with quadrilateralsections of Polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE (known under the trademarkTEFLON) is also well-known. This type of gasket presents mechanical andphysical characteristics capable of reducing wear and tear; however, itis not able to provide the precise sealing performances of rubbergaskets.

[0006] Also well-known is the use of ring-shaped gaskets obtained bymeans of the insertion of rubber toroidal gaskets into ring-shapedsupports in PTFE. However, this means is less than optimal as a risk ofextraction of the rubber toroidal gasket is present, and therefore lackof seal can result because of the friction developed by the ball of thevalve on said gasket.

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to propose a toroidal gasketwhich eliminates the above-mentioned inconveniences and problems makingit possible, as a result of its new and original combination and layoutof the parts, to obtain an increase in efficacy both in terms of use andduration at the same time.

SUMMARY

[0008] A gasket for use with a ball and valve, the gasket comprising anoval support and a toroidal gasket. The oval support further comprises ahorizontal section and a vertical section, the horizontal section andvertical section attached to form a groove. The groove is defined by atooth on one of the sections. The toroidal gasket is fixedly attached tothe oval support and the toroidal gasket is inserted into the groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, andfor further details and advantages thereof, reference is now made to thefollowing Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the followingdrawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front view of a gasket according to the invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a section view through line 2 of a gasket according tothe invention; and

[0012]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a gasket in relation to the ball ofa valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] In the descriptions which follow, like parts are markedthroughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals,respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale andcertain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in theinterest of clarity and conciseness.

[0014] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a ring-shaped gasket is shown. Aring shaped gasket 1 includes a toroidal gasket 7 attached to a support2. The ring shaped gasket 1 is shown as a circle, however, other shapescan be implemented without detracting from the spirit of the invention,including oval. The support 2 in one disclosed embodiment ismanufactured from PTFE and the toroidal gasket 7 is manufactured from anelastomer. The toroidal gasket 7 is fixedly attached to the support 2via a cementation process. The cementation process includes theapplication of an adhesive substance to the toroidal gasket along withother processes known to those skilled in the art.

[0015] Referring now to FIG. 3, an exploded view of the ring shapedgasket in contact with a ball of a valve is shown. The support 2 has across section which is substantially L-shaped with a vertical length 3attached to a horizontal length 4 defining a groove 5 whose portionfacing the inside of the ring shaped gasket 1 presents a tooth orprojection 6. The tooth 6 is substantially perpendicular to the length 4and 5 on which it resides. According to one disclosed embodiment of theinvention, the toroidal gasket 7 is lodged into the grove 5 defined bythe vertical length 3 and the horizontal length 4. The toroidal gasket 7is compressed into the groove 5 over the tooth 6 and is fixedly attachedby means of a cementation process. The tooth 6 acts impedes movement ofthe toroidal gasket 7 during operation and acts to keep the toroidalgasket 7 in a constant position relative to the support 2.

[0016] The toroidal gasket 7 is therefore deformed and physicallyblocked in the area defined by lengths 3 and 4 and by the tooth 6 of thesupport 2. The tooth 6 aligns the toroidal gasket 7 with the support 2during the cementation process.

[0017] The ring-shaped gasket 1 is lodged in the body of a valve (notrepresented) so that the ball 8 of the valve is in constant contact withthe toroidal gasket 7. The ring shaped gasket 1 according to thedisclosed embodiment makes it possible to maintain both the precisemechanical stability of the PTFE, and the safety of the seal of the partin elastomer at the same time reducing the dragging friction between thetoroidal gasket 7 and the ball 8 of the valve, thereby leading to aneasier working of the valve itself. The ring shaped gasket 1 also makesit possible to avoid problems deriving from rapid and important changesin the flow and the thrusts made on the ball by the liquid passingthrough it and, in particular, in the presence of so-called “waterhammering”.

[0018] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art after considering this specification or practicingthe disclosed invention. The specification and examples above areexemplary only, with the true scope of the invention being indicated bythe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gasket for use with a ball and valve, thegasket comprising: an oval support, the oval support comprises ahorizontal section and a vertical section, the horizontal section andvertical section attached to form a groove; and a toroidal gasketfixedly attached to the oval support, wherein the toroidal gasket isinserted into the groove; wherein the groove is formed by a tooth on onesection.
 2. The gasket of claim 1, wherein the toroidal gasket ismanufactured from an elastomer.
 3. The gasket of claim 1, wherein thetoroidal gasket is cemented to the support.
 4. The gasket of claim 1,wherein the toroidal gasket is compressed into the groove, and whereinthe tooth of the groove maintains pressure on the compressed toroidalgasket.
 5. The gasket of claim 1, wherein the oval support ismanufactured from polytetrafluoroethylene.
 6. The gasket of claim 1,wherein the oval support is circular.
 7. The gasket of claim 1, whereinthe tooth impedes movement by the toroidal gasket with respect to theoval support.
 8. The gasket of claim 1, wherein the tooth extendssubstantially perpendicular to one of the sections.